Arsenal can make top four - Charlie Nicholas

Former Arsenal player and Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes the Gunners could well finish inside the top-four of the Premier League this season, as per a report on Sky Sports.

Despite back-to-back defeats in their opening two games of the season against Manchester City and Chelsea, the Gunners have now secured four straight victories under Unai Emery as his side improve.

With Emery’s side currently sat sixth in the table, Nicholas believes that the Gunners are more than capable of pushing for a top four finish this season.

He said:

“At the moment I am pleased with the response from the first two defeats, everybody can see we have a real problem trying to adjust to the new manager’s policy defensively.”

“There is still that confusion between defence and attack that takes too long to get going. Saying that, Sunday’s win over Everton was a first clean sheet, a confidence builder.”

“My prediction at the start of the season was that Arsenal and Chelsea were going to be the two to miss out because there was too much toing and froing.”

“I think that gap has closed for them because Man United are average and Spurs are struggling a little bit”

“I don’t think they are good enough because defensively it is telling me the honest answer is no [they are not], but they are improving and the good news for me is – what I have said from day one – that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can play in the same team because Aubameyang is not a natural number nine.”

“That is why it works better and they are starting to score a few goals and I am grateful for that. Until Arsenal adjust to this defensive set up – and let’s be honest at the weekend Petr Cech was man of the match, which tells you all you need to know – as it stands I am not expecting them to make the top four.”

“If the improvement gradually carries on, I don’t see Chelsea or Man United being so much better, and I am a little bit more hopeful than I was at the start of the season.”

 Aubameyang and Lacazette, who both got on the score-sheet against Everton on Sunday, have been at the centre of the Arsenal attack and are beginning to form a formidable partnership.

Nicholas spoke of the attacking duo’s importance to the Arsenal side.

“Massive, they are vital. When strikers score goals confidence is high, people trust them and you can feel it in the stadium now.”

“Aubameyang is better than Lacazette, but Lacazette is really good because he likes to get on the shoulder of people. If anybody notices with Arsenal, Lacazette’s touch and spin and link-up with Aubameyang – I think Cardiff is where they showed it best – they have that, this partnership and togetherness, and the feeling between the two of them.”

“Aubameyang feels a bit more comfortable with Lacazette in the team and playing slightly wider. I think it suits him better, he looks to be enjoying it more rather than waiting 15 minutes for a touch at number nine.”

“They have got a bit of a partnership here, it’s not Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke but it’s heading in the right direction and that is the most positive thing for the Gunners.” - Read Sport